Bumper-attaching bracket



June 19, 1923. 1,458,92?

I w. E'. ERICSON BUMPER ATTACHING BRACKET Filed Fb. 12, 1923 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 liven/604" 252 726607 June 19, 1923, v 1,458,92?

' W. E. ERHCSON BUMPER ATTACHING BRACKET Filed Feb. 12 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wr'nnnnns. mitoses, os nvens'roiv, rumors, ASSIGNQB 'ro mrLnxJ Peon-oars (rem retry, or wsnxneen, runners, e CORPORATION or n'snewenn ecnsnn errec nrwe sneaker.

s sneation nee February 12, was. $011M no. enemas,

To all whom it may-concern: I 7

Be it known that I, WILLARD E. ERICQGN,

a citizen of the United States, and resident llhis invention relates to bumner attaching brackets for automobiles and more particularly to certain new and novel features in the construction of devices for attaching a bumper to thefre me members .ofan automobile.

The object of theinvention-is provide e simple and strong construction for e bracket which may be readily applied to ye rions makes of automobiles, and having ample latitiide of edg'ustment to afiord e secure mounting, without drilling or cut ting sway parts of the frame members.

A further object'of the invention is tov provide a bracket constructed of sheet metal, that is,-the parts stamped from. sheet metal, such as steel, and shaped to final form..-

Brackets made in this mannerhave a. decided advantage over cast or forged metal brackets, princi ally in. the low cost of manufacture and superior shock resisting qualities. I Manifestly the use of sheet metal as the material involves considerable departure in design and treatment, and it is therefore to the construction and assembly of the several parts that the present invention relates.

a A preferred embodiment of the invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which may be briefly desoribe asfollowsz, I

Fig. 1 is atop lan view of e bumper attachedto the, frame members of a vehicle the attaching brackets embodying the involition, f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevetion of the bracket as taken on line 2- -2 ofFig'u'rel, Fig. 3 is a detailed viewin vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig1ire 2, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of...the part 5 shown in Figure 2, with a. portion of the bracket in horizontal section, as taken en lines-491 Flgure 2, i

Fig. 54s a perspectlve view of the penien' plates constituting the main partof the bracket. I

Fig.6 is a detail view in rear elevation of the clamping member removed.

In disclosin e are illustrate Figure 1 as a, bumper A at the forward end mobile,

B -B. The bumper A may be of-eny parof an autoticular form, altho preferably of that type" known as the resilient'bar bumper mede'li'p 03382313 shaped to provide a forwardly dis- P extendin between and beyond the ends of invention, the brackets supporting and upon the side frame members impact member 1, end a rear bar 2 the side rams members B-B and directly connected or clamped to the brackets.

As clearly. shown in Figure 2, the forward ends of the side frame members terminate in'e, downwardly curved extremity etthe I end of which is an enlargement or frame head-whichsupports a. spring bolt (3, and

serving as a pivotal connection between the forward vehicle spring I).

companion plates which area plied against the inner and enter sides oi t e frame head and secured/pnmerilg; by the spring bolt C, which pases thru the entrel portion of etc has a portion extend 111g forwardly k or clamping? engagement:

the plates, each with the bn inper, and one of the plates hes a portion or arm extending nearwardly end having supplementary connection with the side frame member beyond the spring bolt, thereby providin means for preventing the rotation of the iracket about. the spring belt or main point of connection.

Referring now more in detail to one of sdjecentside frame members 3-3 and the In general, each brecketconsists of two the brackets, the same consists of three I main parts, to-wit: a pair of com anion plates 3 and. 4, and a clamping mom or E. The plates 3 and 4 as alread mentioned are formed from sheet steel, rst stam in blank form, and subsequently punc ed and bentinto finished form. For the most part, the plates 3 and 4 are identical in conformation, having wide central portions which bear. against-the sides of frame head,

and in which are punched holes 3' and t" respectively, to receive'the spring bolt (3.

As. clearly shown in Figure 5, the forward nortiensof the plates'S and 4, are;

ofi'set upwardly beyond the spring bolt holes 3 end 4?, these forward portions being eX- tended to clear the frame heads whereupon theyere bent inwardly at right angles, and thence outwardly and. finally doubled bacl; thereb forming two vertically disposed U shape clips 3* and 4 respectively. These clips are counterparts of each other, opening in opposite directions, and having two short arallel Webs, disposed in close proximity intermediate the plates 3 and e, and two forwardly disposed. webs or flanges, lying in the same plane, and forming a continuous abutment face throughout the entire width of the bracket.

The only material structural difference between the two plates is that the outer one 3 has a. rearward extension or arm 5, along which are punched e'series of holes 6 spaced apart a. suitable distance.

Connecting the arm 5, of thelouter plate 3, with the frame member B, et a point reerwardly oi the frame end, is an adiustable connecting link, comprising a bolt 7, consisting of a threaded shenii, having a flattened head at its upper end, offset from the exisof the shank, end a block 8, secured to the outer face of the arm 5, by means of a short stud 8 extending through one of the holes 6 in said arm and secured bye nut 8'" (Figure 3). The bolt 7 is copeble of being turned in the block, thus providing for its lengthwise adjustment, whereas the block mav be sotated, thus providing for the anguer adjustment of the bolt.- To secure the free end of the bolt Y, a hole is drilled in the frame and a bolt 9, is inserted through the flattened bolthead and the hole. Finally the nut 8 is tight ened end the link becomes a. permanent connection between the arm 5, end the frame member B. in order to lock the parts more securely together, a nut 10, is applied to the lower end of the boit, before the stud 8 is finally inserted in the selected hole 5., and turned against the linden side of the block 8. *When the parts are thus assembled the nut 10 is disposed sufficiently elem to the arm 5 so that it is heil against rotation upon the bolt 7. If desited'the portion. of the bolt 7, projecting beyond the nut- 10 may be cutoff.

The setting of the links is manifestly performed after the plates have been applied on opposite sides of the frame head, this being done by removing the spring bolt C, and immediately replacing the same, with the plates in place, said plates being thus clamped securely to the frame member.

At a point on the margin of the plates,

and adjacent the holes 3 end 4* are formed integi'al lugs 10, 10, which are struck ou werdly end at right angles to the "plot/es. Carried b these lugs are set screws 11, 11, positions in redial alignment with the not assess? l2, and hexagonal head 13 at opposite ends oi" the spring bolt C. The set screws are screwed down age-inst the feces of the bolt head and nut, and serve to lock the parts 3, 4, and the rear bar 2 of thebumper,

as clearly shown in Figure 2. The rear plate 15 of the clamping member is provided with e vertical slot 15 extending upwsrdly from the lower endiree edge thereof substantially thruout its entire height. The width-of the slot is somewhat wider than the combined thickness of the two contacting portions of the clips 3 and 4", thus allowing for slight variations or discrepancies in the lateral spacing of the plates 3 and i, when applied,- to difierent widths of frame members.

The clamping member E is adapted to clamp the rear her 2 of the bumper against the forwardly facing surfaces of the clips 3 and i", these surfaces together forming an abutment face having the same vertical dimension as that of the bar; The clamping member is appliedby passing the same downwardly over end straddling the bar 2, together with the outer ortions of the clips,

the rose plate of the c amping member at the sanie time, passing between the parallel portions of the clips, as well as straddling the transverse portions thereof, throu h the medium of the slot 15.

not

lower edge of the clamping member E provision is made for cap screws 17, 17, edapted to ease thru the outer plate 14, end to be anchored in tapped holes in the rear plate 15. Having of the invention, and without contemplating that the scope of the invention shall be limited thereto;

1 claim 1. A bumper attaching bracket comprising companion slates adapted to be secured on opposite smes and at the end of a vehicle frame member, said plates being provided at their forward ends with U-shaped clips extending inwardly at right angles tosaid plates, the outer portions thereof forming vertical abutment face, and means for clamping bumper ba-ragainst said abutment face;

2, A. bumper attaching bracket comprising companion plates adapted to be clamped on opposite sides, end-at the end of, a vehicle frame member, and having laterally described a preferred embodiment -ends, an

openin U-shaped clips extendin beyond the en of the frame member an forming a vertical abutment face, and a clamping,

member adaptedio straddle said clips to glam!) a bumper bar :against said abutment ace.

3. A bumper attaching bracket comprising companion lates adapted to be clamped on opposite si es of the head of a vehicle frame member, and provided at theirforward ends with; inwardly and outwardly extending and laterally opening U-shaped clips forming a vertical abutment face, and a U-shaped clamping member adapted to straddle said clips and to clamp a bumper lfiar in flatwise co'ntact with said abutment ace.

4. A bumper attaching bracket comprising two companion plates clamped on opposite sides, and at the end of, a vehicle frame member, each plate being bent at its for ward end to provide inwardly extending U- shaped clips located forwardly of the ends of said frame members, the outer portions of said clips forming a vertical abutment face adapted to have flatwise contact with a bumper bar, and a, U-shaped'clamping member having aslotted rear portion and adaptgd to straddle said clips and said bumper 5. A bumper attaching bracket comprising companion plates of sheet metal clamped against opposite sides of the head of a vehicle frame member through the medium of :1 bolt paming through said plates, said plates being bent at t eir forward ends to provide U-shaped clips extending at right angles to said plates, and a clamping mem-fl her having a slotted portion adapted to straddle the adjacent portions of said clips and to clamp a bumper bar flatwise against the forward transverse portions of said clips.

6. A bumper attaching bracket comprising two companion plates of sheet metal clamped on opposite sides of the end of a vehicle frame member by means of a spring bolt, said plates extending beyond said frame member and rovided with inturned and outwardly opening U-shaped clips, approachin in close proximityat their inner means for uniting the inner end portions of said clips and for clampin a bumper bar against the abutment ace formed by the outer portions of said clips.

7. A bumper attachin bracket comprising companion plates of s eet metal clamped against the end of a vehicle frame member by means of a spring bolt, said plates being bent at their forward ends to provide U- shaped clipsextending transversely toward each other and forwardly of said frame member and forming a forwardly facing abutment face, and a U-shaped clamping member adapted to clamp a. bumper bar flatwise against said abutment face and having a slotted portion straddling said clips rearwardly of said bumper bar.

8. A bumper attaching bracket comprising a plate secured to the end of a vehicle frame member by means of the spring bolt .thereof and having forwardly and rearwardly extending portions, means for connecting the rear end portion of said plate to said.=-frame member comprising a threaded block secured to said plate and capable of angular adjustment, and a bolt carried by said block and adapted to be secured to said frame member at its free nd.

9. A bumper attachin ing a plate secured to t e end of :1. ve icle frame member by means of the spring bolt thereof, said plate terminatin beyond said frame member in an inwardly be clip and provided with a rearwa-rdly extending arm, a link connecting said arm with said frame member and comprising a bolt and nut, said nut havingvswivel connection with said arm and said bolt having lengthwise movement in said nu..

10. A bumper attaching bracket comprising two companion plates of sheet metal secured in fiatwise contact with each other to the end of 51 Vehicle frame member by means of the spring bolt thereof, said plates terminating-beyond said frame member in inwardl bent clips forming an abutment face, one 0% said plates havinga rearwardly extending arm provided with a plurality of bracket com risnt U-ShapEKl holes arrangedlongitudinally thereof, a 

